Water Quality Report for Auburn Ravine Water Year 216-217 Compiled by the SARSAS Citizen Science Program
INDEX 1. Overview of Auburn Ravine 2. Comments on Study 3. Sites of study on Auburn Ravine a. Auburn Ravine Park in Lincoln b. McBean Park c. Hemphill Dam d. Newcastle e. North Ravine 4. Appendix I. Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) II. Sampling Procedures III. Citizen Science Participants
1. Overview of Auburn Ravine Figure 1: Map of Auburn Ravine Auburn Ravine is a 33 mile tributary of the Sacramento River running from downtown Auburn to Verona on the Sacramento River. The ravine can be viewed in three distinct parts, the lowest reach including the Cross canal and East Side canal, the middle reach from the canals to Lincoln, and the upper reach from Lincoln to Auburn. Also included in the Auburn Ravine watershed is its tributatry the North Ravine. The lowest reach can be viewed as part of the central valley river complex of slow moving warmer waters. The middle section to Lincoln is a confined channel through flat land. Upstream of Lincoln the ravine has a steeper gradient and spawning areas for Chinook salmon. Currently salmon breeding is generally limited to the reach beetween Lincoln and Hemphill Dam. Very few redds have been seen above Hemphill Dam. During much of the year Auburn Ravine is used as a conveyance for irrigation water with flows close to 1 cubic feet per second during the late spring and summer. Diversion dams are in place from April to October to direct this water to distribution canals.
2. Comments on Study The goal of this report is to provide a summary of water quality conditions during the 216 water year, between October 216 and September 217. This year the Citizen Science program concentrated on doing monthly water quality testing at selected sites in Auburn Ravine. Starting in April 216 new and returning volunteers were trained on the water quality testing equipment and sampling procedures, and formed teams to work at the sites in Auburn Ravine. Procedures were established and refined for this effort. Ongoing training and refinement of procedures occurred throughout the season. Continued training will be conducted in the upcoming year. New professional grade equipment is being procured with the existent student grade equipment to be used by school programs. Technical support for this effort has been provided by Sierra Streams Institute. Financial support has been provided by the Bella Vista Foundation and Patagonia.
3. Sites a. Auburn Ravine Park (38.8836/121.31347) Auburn Ravine Park site Auburn Ravine Park is located along Auburn Ravine in the city of Lincoln. Auburn Ravine Park is located upstream of the Nelson Ranch site. The sample site was at the access at the far end of the Auburn Ravine Dog Park, downstream from the Nevada Irrigation District (NID) gauging station. The data showed that the water temperature stayed within a suitable range for salmon during the spawing season.
Data Figure 3: Temperatures at Auburn Ravine Park during 216-217. Blue dots are water temperatures and Orange dots are air temperatures. DATE Air Temp Conduct. DO % Do mg/l PH water Temp. Turbid. 9/18/216 26.75 65 1 9.46 7.33 19.8.8 1/15/216 2.3 14 6.45 16.74 11.4 11/19/216 14 14 7.25 11.13 5 12/17/216 13 174 6.9 9.72 4 1/28/217 16.8 186 84 9.66 7.76 9.5 2/24/217 9.5 2 83 9.55 7.6 9.43 15 3/11/217 22 213 118 11.84 7.28 15.2 8.4 4/11/217 16.5 24 96 8.76 7.29 13.45 7.9 5/6/217 19 23 125 11.37 7.64 19.35 1.5 6/9/217 27 16.2 133 11.87 7.36 2.31 7/14/217 3 89 12 8.14 6.88 22.34 3.2 8/1/217 25 91 97 8.37 6.96 21.97 9/17/217 24 1 78 7.4 7 19.63 33.3 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Table 1: Water quality data for Dog Park during 216-217. Dog Park Air and Water Temperatures Air Temp water Temp.
3 Dog Park Conductivity 25 2 15 1 5 Dog Park Disolved Oxygen % 14 12 1 8 6 4 2
Dog Park PH 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Dog Park Turbidity. 45 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Figure 3: Water Quality at Auburn Ravine Park during 216-217.
c. McBean Park (38.887747/121.28624) McBean Park is located along Auburn Ravine in the city of Lincoln. McBean Park is located upstream of the Auburn Ravine Dog Park site. The sample site at McBean Park was in the stream directly behind the information display. The data showed that the water temperature stayed within a suitable range for salmon during the spawing season.
Data McBean Park DATE Air Temp Conduct. DO % Do mg/l PH water Temp. Turbid. 9/1/216 27 1.2 7.2 19.9 4.5 1/23/216 2.6 55 7.5 14.9 2.8 11/5/216 19.6 81 7.6 13.5 5 12/17/216 7.1 174.29 6.9 9 26.3 1/28/217 18.5 1.3 9.8 4.1 3/11/217 22.4 18.53 5.6 12.8 3.5 5/7/217 26 147.91 7.4 19.8 3.6 6/17/217 29 71.91 11.3 7.2 22.5 3.85 7/23/217 32 123 5.5 7.5 22.4 3 8/6/217 29.9 57 6.3 7.7 22.6 9/15/217 27 134 7 7.6 22.2 Table 2: Water quality data for McBean Park in 216-217 McBean Air and Water Temperatures 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Air Temp water Temp.
McBean Conductivity. 2 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Mc Bean PH 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Mc BeanTurbidity 3 25 2 15 1 5 Figure 5: Water quality at McBean Park during 216-217.
d. Hemphill Dam (38.896756/121.251957) Hemphill Dam Site Hemphill Dam (Hemphill Diversion Facility) is an NID facility located on Auburn Ravine upstream of the city of Lincoln. The Hemphill site is located upstream of the McBean Park sampling site. The Hemphill sampling site was at the downstream end of the pool at the base of the dam. Data Hemphill Dam DATE Air Temp Conduct. DO % Do mg/l PH water Temp. Turbid. 9/13/216 21.34 63 17 1.5 7.3 17.7 2.2 11/16/216 2 15.73 92 9.42 7.6 14.5 12/14/216 13.5 22.64 7.1 12.2 3.5 1/25/217 14.7 16 1 11.35 7.1 9.8 6.6 2/24/217 11.6 17 14 11.6 7.2 1.5 9.6 3/17/217 18.5 197.2 118 12.7 7.5 14.2 3.9 4/15/217 22.8 143 97 9.7 7.6 15 3.9 5/1/217 19.6 168.7 96 8.86 7.4 18.7 3 6/14/217 25.4 12.71 92 8.77 7.4 17.3 2.2 7/12/217 28.4 11.4 96 8.46 7.4 21.2 1.6 8/1/217 24.8 96.13 1 8.86 7.4 2.7.6 9/27/217 25 77.79 93 8.8 7 16.8 3
3 25 2 Hemphill Air and Water Temperatures 15 1 5 Air Temp water Temp. Hemphill Conductivity 25 2 15 1 5
Hemphill DisolvedOxygen % 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 Hemphill PH 7.7 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.2 7.1 7 6.9 6.8 6.7
Hemphill Turbidity 12 1 8 6 4 2
e. Newcastle (38.89479/121.14267) Newcastle Site in Spring The Newcastle site is located upstream of the Hemphill Dam sampling site and Gold Hill Dam. The sampling site was accessed off of Ralston Ln. in Newcastle. Data New Castle DATE Air Temp Conduct. DO % Do mg/l PH water Temp. Turbid. 9/9/216 19 89 7.51 18.83 2 1/1/216 17.8 61 122 11.76 7.97 15.9 3.5 11/14/216 16 1 116 11.98 8.15 12.66 25 12/12/216 6.7 188 1 2 8.35 1.72 2 1/16/217 4.9 22 121 13.7 8.45 9.13 5.2 2/13/217 8.9 213 17 11.65 8.18 1.79 5.2 3/13/217 11 226 18 11.56 8.35 12 2.8 4/16/217 15.5 224 1 2 8.53 12.78 4 5/8/217 18 126 1 2 7.39 13
6/15/217 19 66 1 2 7.46 13.51 3.8 8/1/217 23.5 56 18 1.3 7.97 16.5 3.6 9/11/217 19.7 62 14 9.47 7.69 18.37 1.8 Newcastle Air and Water Temperatures 25 2 15 1 5 Air Temp water Temp. Newcastle Conductivity 25 2 15 1 5
14 Newcastle Disolved Oxygen % 12 1 8 6 4 2 8.8 8.6 8.4 8.2 8 7.8 7.6 7.4 7.2 7 6.8 Newcastle PH
Newcastle Turbidity 3 25 2 15 1 5 Figure 7: Water quality at Newcastle during 216-217.
f. North Ravine (38.91191/121.13415) North Ravine is a tributary to Auburn Ravine downstream and west of the city of Auburn. The North Ravine site is located upstream of the Newcastle sampling site on Auburn Ravine. Before June 13 the sample site was just north of Millertown Rd. After that time it moved to slightly downstream from the confluence of North Ravine and Auburn Ravine. Data North Ravine Confluence DATE Air Temp Conduct. DO % Do mg/l PH water Temp. Turbid. 9/12/216 17.5 78 121 1.9 7.88 18.55 1/1/216 18.3 52 1 2 7.77 16.27 4.7 11/14/216 11.4 157 117 12.25 8.27 12.68.6 12/12/216 8.3 23 1 2 8.36 1.94 11.6 1/16/217 5.3 21 1 2 8.4 9.22 7.4 2/13/217 11 21 16 11.51 8.14 9.78 1.8 3/13/217 12.6 22 1 2 8.18 18.6 3.6 4/9/217 16.8 176 11 11.75 8.3 11.3 11.7 5/8/217 19.2 97 12 1.66 7.2 11.9 6/15/217 17.7 51 1 2 7.65 12.62 3.5 8/1/217 22.1 42 15 9.95 7.51 17.2 8.7 9/11/217 21.4 43 15 1.5 7.76 18.44 1.8 North Ravine Air and Water Temperatures 25 2 15 1 5 Air Temp water Temp.
North Ravine Conductivity 25 2 15 1 5 North Ravine DisolvedOxygen % 14 12 1 8 6 4 2
North Ravine PH 9 8.5 8 7.5 7 6.5 6 4. Appendix I. QAPP Available on the SARSAS web site II. III. Sampling Procedures Available on the SARSAS web site Citizen Science Participants John Billings Roxanne Cariadi-Kimbler Kevin Casey Gary Koolohf Heather Watkins Koolhof Kyoji Miyazaki Jeff Ramsdell Bruce Shaffer Craig Hollyfield